Former Mass. Gov. Weld drops out of New York race

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld
ended his bid to become governor of New York on Tuesday after a
weak showing at the state Republican Party convention and pleas
by party leaders to drop out of the race.

The move averts a Republican primary contest between Weld
and former state legislator John Faso and leaves the more
conservative Faso to face the heavily favored Democrat, state
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, in the November election.

"I have come to the conclusion that this is not the time
for a contested primary in this party," Weld said at a
Manhattan news conference.